The Bulletin. 5 



of this and other South Atlantic States. Generally the only difFer- 

 ence between the surface and subsoil in this type of soil is that the 

 former, having been broken up by cultivation and weathering, has 

 more or less vegetable matter worked into it. 



This soil is naturally strong, and is susceptible of high productiv- 

 ity under judicious fertilization and proper cultural management. 

 It is especially adapted to the growth of grains, grasses and clover. 



PKEPARATION AND CULTIVATION OF SOIL FOR CORN. 



Tli,e plats were all broke alike with a two-horse turning plow 8 to 

 10 inches deep during January, and then followed by a good harrow- 

 ing. Just before ready for planting the rows were run 4 to 5 inches 

 deep and 4 feet apart, with a one-horse plow. The fertilizer mix- 

 tures for the different plats were applied uniformly in these drills by 

 hand and covered by means of cultivators, having the wings on and 

 straddling the rows. On the slight ridges thus formed the corn was 

 planted a little below the level, all tests of the same kind at the same 

 farm being given the same treatment as to time of planting and 

 otherwise. All cultivations were as nearly level as possible and 

 rather deep early in the season, with the small hoes of the Planet 

 Jr. Cultivator, but became shallower, using the large hoes as the sea- 

 son advanced and the roots extended towards the middle of the rows 

 and nearer the surface. This system of cultivation afforded pretty 

 thorough breaking of the land early in the season and prevented the 

 disturbance of the root systems of the plants later. An effort was 

 made to cultivate every ten or twelve days, as far as the weather 

 wiould permit, and especially immediately after rains, in order to pro- 

 duce a fine dust mulch with the shallow-running plows, to retard the 

 evaporation of the recently-added moisture. 



PREPARATION AND CULTIVATION OF SOIL FOR COTTON. 



All plats devoted to these fertilizer tests were broke 8 to 10 inches 

 deep during January or February in the respective years except 

 where otherwise designated at both the Edgecombe and Iredell farms. 

 Just before laying off the rows, which was from the last of April to 

 the middle of May, the ground was "gone over" with a smoothing 

 harrow. The rows were run 5 to 7 inches deep with an 8-inch shovel 

 and the different fertilizer applications per plat made in the furrows 

 thus made. The fertilizer was covered as in the corn, and the cotton 

 planted on the level or slightly above the level. One or two cultiva- 

 tions were given the cotton before it came up, using a weeder or light 

 harrow, depending upon which did the most effective and satisfac- 

 tory work. 



The cultivation was level with cultivators, being moderately deep 

 at the beginning of the season and shallower as the root zone in- 

 creased. The cultivator was never run more than twice to the row 



